Skirt-guard for bicycles.



Patented May 8, i900.

Y. E M U u T A. P. w. 4, 9 d. PU 0. N

SKIRT GUARD FOR BICYCLES.

(Annliration led June 4, 1898.1

(No Model.)

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ilnirrs y PATRICK A. TOOMEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SKIRT-GUARD FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,417, dated May 8,1900;

Application filed J'nne 4, 1898. Serial No. 682,603. (No model.)

T0 all 1071/0117, t may con/cera.-

Beit known that l, PATRICK A. Tooiinv, a citizen ofthe United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSkirt-Guards for Bicycles, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates in general to bicycle skirt-guards for holding theskirts of lady bicycle-riders away from the rear wheels of theirbicycles. It relates in particular to devices of this class whichinvolve a peripheral strip arranged and held in bent or curved conditionaround or above the upper portion of the periphery of the rear wheel,and a couple of shields, such as a plurality or network of laces or thelike, extending on opposite sides of suoli wheel downwardly to an extentto cover a suitable portion thereof, and thereby prevent the ridersskirt from coming into contact with or rubbing against the same.

Prominent objects of my invention are to provide a simple, practical,and durable skirtguard; to effectively prevent all catching orentangling of the skirt, either with the moving parts of the bicycle orwith the device; to prevent sagging, loosening and opening of the sideshields, and to arrange for automatically taking up any stretch orelongation that may occur in them; todispense with all heavy metallicrods and stays for holding the device in place; to prevent loosening andrattling of the peripheral strip; to reduce to a minimum both the weightof the device and the expense of its construction; to arrange for theeasy and quick attachment of the device to and detachment of the samefrom the frame of either a ladys or gentlemans bicycle, and particularlyto provide a guard which shall permit ladies to ride gentlemensbicycles.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other desired ends my inventionconsists in matters hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the rearportion of a bicycle provided with askirt-guard embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, showing the guard partly intransverse section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view,

on a larger scale, of the guard unattached to the wheel 5 and Fig. 4 isa perspective View of a small portion of a modied and preferred form ofguard.

The skirt-guard illustrated involves a long strip A, which is arrangedand held in position above the rear wheel 1 of the bicycle B in a shapeor form curved or bent substantially in correspondence with the periph-Iery of such wheel. ,The guard illustrated also involves a plurality oflacing strings or cords 2 2, which converge inwardly andldownwardly onopposite sides of the wheel l from the peripheral strip A and have theirupper ends attached thereto and their lower ends held in position at ornear the axle of the rear wheel, so as to form shields for the sides ofrear wheel.

It will be understood that my invention contemplates the use of anyother style of side shields for the rear wheel and is not intended inits broader features to be limited toI side shields formed byradially-arranged laces, such as those shown.

In accordance with myinvention the peripheral strip A is made ofiiexible and elastic material and of such a shape or form that when bentor curved into substantial correspondence with the wheel-periphery itwill tend to lessen its extent or degree of curvature and assume a lessbent or curved condi-V tion. In this way when and after the device isapplied to the bicycle the peripheral strip A will always be undertension, tending to render it less curved, and so will continually drawupon the strings or cords 2 2 and hold them taut, it being understood,of course, that the strings or cords 2 2 are of such length as to extendfrom their point of connection or attachment near the wheel-axleoutwardly to points equally and desrably beyond the periphery of thewheel 1. As a result the peripheral strip A will always be held in afirm and taut position above the wheel and will maintain its propercurvature, while at the same time the side shields formed by the lacingwill also be held firm and taut, and thereby prevented from sagging,loosening,or opening. As further results all stretch or elongation of4the shields will be taken up, the peripheral strip is elfectivelyprevented from loosening or rattling, heavy metallic rods or IOO staysfor attaching the strip to the bicycleframe are dispensed with, and theweight and expense of construction of the device are reduced to aminimum. j

The periphery-covering strip A could be made of any flexible and elasticlnaterial and in'any desired original form or shape. I prefer to make itout of nickel-aluminium, so as to have it not only properly flexible andelastic, but also light, strong, and durable as well. I also prefer tomake it of a normally-straight form, as shown in Fig. 3, as beingexceedingly simple, inexpensive to manufacture, and readily bendableinto the desired curvature when placed upon the wheel. In such case. itis conveniently made flat in cross-section, although obviously theinvention contemplates any other suitable cross-section.

As a modified form and also as a matter of further improvement the stripA is provided with a rib or strip 3, which is attached to it, as by thestrips 12 12 along its middle p0rtion on its inner, lower, or concaveface, as shown in Fig. 4, and serves to strengthen it, especiallyagainst transverse breaking ori-al)- rupt bending, and also to increaseits tendency to assume a less-curved condition.

-As a simple and quickly-operable means of attaching the strip A to thebicycle-frame the strip is provided with a strap or band C, preferablyleather, which is secured to the strip A in position to permit of itsbeing wrapped around and buckled to the cross-bar 4, Fig. 2, usualljTemployed in bicycles as a connection between the two rear bars 5 5 at apoint above the rear wheel. 'Of course if this crossbar 4 is not foundin a bicycle to which it is desired to attach the device, or even if ithas such a cross-bar, the device can be attached thereto in any otherway.

As an arrangement for holding the strip A firmly. and yet detachably tothe bicycleframe it is provided with a couple of springarms 6 G, whichproject downwardly and outwardly from its opposite sides between therear upright bars 5 5 and have their lower ends provided with concaveclasps 7 7, which are forced against and engage the rear bars 5 5. Theinner or concave surfaces of the clasps 7 7 are desirably provided withfelt, leather, or the like, so as not to injure the frame-bars 5 5. Itwill be observed that these spring-arms 6 G serve to hold the peripheralstrip A against undesirable or permanent lateral and longitudinalmovements relatively to the bicycle-frame, and at the same time theyafford therewith a connection which is sufficiently elastic to allow thestrip to accommodate itself readily to the jars and shocks received bythe bicycle. It will also be observed that these spring-arms allow thekeasy ,and quick application of the guard to and detachment of the samefrom the bicycle-frame, for both results can be obtained by simplygrasping the spring-arms between the lingers ofV the operators hand,pressing them inwardly, so that they clear the frame-bars, and

v'then either applying them thereto or withdrawing them therefrom, asdesired. lIt will be observed, further, that these spring-arms allow theapplication of the same style or form of guard to all kinds of bicycles,whether single, double, or larger, and also to all styles of likevehicles, for be their upright bars far apart or near together, slantingor parallel with one another, or differing in other respects thespring-arms will always properly engage them at the desired point, forthey can spring outwardly to any desired extent. It will be finallyobserved that these spring-arms are particularly well adapted for use inconnection with an elastic strip and lacing attached thereto, such asshown herein, for they allow the strip to be applied at any convenientpoint between the bars and then moved upwardly until the strip assumesthe proper degree of curvature and the lacing the proper degree oftautness.

The cords or strings 2' 2 are conveniently attached to the strip A bypassing them through a couple of series of holes respectively formed inopposite sides of the latter and by them forming knots on their ends.The lower ends of these strings or cords on the opposite sides of therear wheel could be held in position at or near the axle thereof by anysuitable devices, preferably by easily removable or detachable ones, soas to permit the easy removal or detachment of the guard from thebicycle. In the drawings I have illustrated a couple of simple andeasily-operable devices for such purposes, which devices I consideradvantageous and practical and matters of specific improvement, but towhich I do not wish to limit myself in the broader conception of myinvention.

The devices illustrated respectively comprise a disk or plate 8, showncircular in form, although of course not necessarily so, and adapted toserve as a common terminal for the cords or strings 2 2, and a hook 9,which connects the disk or plate 8 to the bicycleframe. The upper halt'of the plate or disk S is provided near the periphery with a series ofholes through which the cords or strings 2 2 can be passed andsubsequently knotted, so as to secure them firmly thereto. The upper endof the hook 9 is bent and passed through a hole in the center of theplate or disk 9, so as to secure it firmly thereto and at the same timepermit'it to rotate about the same as an axis, so as to allow it toadjust itself to the direction of the resultant pull of all of the cords2 2. The lower end of the hook 9 is bent so as to permit it to grasp thefiat prtion l0, usually formed in bicycle-frames at the junction of therear upright bars 5 and the lower horizontal bars ll ll, so as toprovide ample support for the rear-wheel bearing, as best shown in Fig.l. By such arrangement the hooks 9 9 can be readily attached to anddetached from the opposite sides of the bicycle-frame, so as to attachor IOO IIO'

detach the guard by sliding them either forv ward or backward, as thecase may be, inside of the flat frame portions 10 10, so as to eithercause their engagement therewith or disengagement therefrom. The lengthof the hooks 9 9 is desirablysufficient to allow the flat cordholdingdisks or plates 8 S to appear above the flat frame portion lO l0.

Fronr the foregoing it will be observed that my device is simple,eective, and easily and quickly attachable and detachable, and that itsprinciples permit of its easy and ready adaptation for attachment tovarious and different styles of bicycles. It will also be observed thatit can be applied with equal facility either to a lad ys or a gentlemanswheel and in either case is equally and highly effective, and,furthermore, that it is particularly well adapted for attachment to agentlemans wheel, so as to allow a lady to ride the same and so allowone wheel to serve at different times for both a lady and a gentleman.As illustrative of the adaptability of this my improved guardparticularly to a gentlemans wheel, I have shown such a wheel in thedrawings and the guard applied to it.

It will be understood that although I have shown a plurality of separatestrings or cords 2 2, each extending from the strip A to one of theplates or disks 8 8 and having its ends respectively connected thereto,l can employ equally well and without departing from the spirit of myinvention a single long string or cord extending successively back andforth between the strip A and the disks 8 8 in the well-known way, andso forming a lacing substantially the same in character and effect asthe lacing formed by the plurality of separate cords shown in thedrawings. It will be further understood that many of the specilicdevices illustrated in the drawings and described herein and theparticular forms or shapes thereof can be largely varied withoutdeparting from the essence of my invention, and therefore that l do notwish to limit myself either to such devices or to the specific formsthereof shown and described in case they are employed.

What l claim as my invention isl. Askirt-guard for bicycles, comprisinga iiexible and elast-ic strip adapted for arrangement in curved or bentcondition about the periphery of the bicyclewhecl, and made so that whenso arranged it will tend to assume a less curved or bent condition;means for attaching such strip to the frame or other stationary partofthe bicycle so as to support it in proper position relatively to thewheel thereof; shields adapted for holding the skirt away from theopposite sides of the wheel, and attached at their out-er ends -to theopposite sides of the peripheral strip so as to hold the same in properbent or curved condition and to be, in turn, held taut there by when thedevice is applied to a bicycle; and means for attaching the inner endsof the shields to the frame or like stationary part of the bicycle.

2. A skirt-guard for bicycles, comprising a flexible and elastic stripadapted for arrangement in curved or bent condition about the peripheryof the bicycle-wheel, and made so i-hatwhen so arranged it will tend toassume a less curved or bent condition; means for attaching such stripto the frame or similar part ot' the bicycle, so as to support it inproper position relatively to the wheel thereof; lacing adapted forarrangement on opposite sides of the wheel and attached at intervalsalong the opposite sides of the peripheral strip so as to hold the sameunder tension in bent condition, and to be in turn held taut thereby,when the device is applied to a bicycle; and means -for attaching thelacing to the frame or like stationary part of the bicycle.

3. A bicycle skirt-guard, comprising a ilexible and elastic stripadapted for arrangement in curved or bent condition about the peripheryof the bicycle-wheel, and made so that when so arranged it will tend toassume a less curved or bent condition; a strap or like device adaptedfor detachably attaching such strip to the rear cross-bar formed on thebicycle-frame above the rear wheel; means for holding the strip firmlyand detachably between the rear upright bars of the bicycle; lacingattached at intervals along the oppos site sides of the stri p andadapted to extend downwardly therefrom on opposite sides oi' the wheel,so as to hold the strip under ten'- sion, and to be in turn held tautthereby, when the device is applied to a bicycle; and means fordetachably attaching the lower ends of the lacing to the frame orsimilar stationary part of the bicycle.

4. A bicycle provided with a skirt-guard for its rear wheel, comprisinga flexible and elastic strip arranged in curved or bent condition overthe rear wheel and between the rear upright frame-bars, and made so thatwhen so arranged it tends to assume a less curved or bent condition;means for attaching such strip to the bicycle-frame so as to support itin such position; skirt-shields arranged on opposite sides of the wheeland attached to the peripheral strip so as to hold the same in propercurved or bent condition; and be in turn held taut thereby; and meansfor attaching the lower ends of the shields to the frame or like part ofthe bicycle.

5. In a bicycle skirt-guard, a disk or plate to which the lacing can beattached; and a hook having its upper end secured to such disk or plate,and its lower end so formed as to permit of its sliding under anddetachably engaging the portion of the bicycle formed at the junction ofthe rear upright and horinontal side bars.

6. In a bicycle skirt-guard, the combination of a peripheral strip; anda couple of spring-arms secured thereto, and adapted to spring outwardlyand detachably engage the rear upright bars of the bicycle.

7. In a skirt-guard for bicycles or the like, the combination with aflexible and elastic IOO IOS

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strip adapted for arrangement in curved or bent condition about theWheel periphery, and made so that when so arranged it Will tend toassume a less curved or bent condition; means for attaching such stripto the frame or other stationary part of the bicycle so as to support itin proper position relatively to the Wheel thereof; spring-arms securedto the strip and adapted to spring out- Wardly and detachably engageupright bars on the bicycle; shields adaptedfor holding the skirt awayfrom the opposite sides of the wheel, and attached at their outer endsto -the opposite sides of the peripheral strip so

